Social Mixing and Clinical Features Linked With Transmission in a Network of Extensively Drug-resistant Tuberculosis Cases in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of death globally, and drug-resistant TB strains pose a serious threat to controlling the global TB epidemic. The clinical features, locations, and social factors driving transmission in settings with high incidences of drug-resistant TB are poorly understood.

Methods

We measured a network of genomic links using Mycobacterium tuberculosis whole-genome sequences.

Results

Patients with 2-3 months of cough or who spent time in urban locations were more likely to be linked in the network, while patients with sputum smear-positive disease were less likely to be linked than those with smear-negative disease. Associations persisted using different thresholds to define genomic links and irrespective of assumptions a

SUBMITTER: Nelson KN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7245156 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature